Optimizing pistachio yield and efficiency: Evaluating artificial mulch and shade nets for enhanced drought and salinity resilience

IF 4.5 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

European Journal of Agronomy Pub Date : 2025-04-22 DOI:10.1016/j.eja.2025.127655

Mohammad Saeed Tadayon , Seyed Majid Mousavi , Seyed Mashaallah Hosseini , Sohrab Sadeghi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of synthetic ground cover (mulch) and shade netting on pistachio trees (Pistacia vera L. cv. ‘Ahmad-Aghai’) under drought and salinity stress during critical reproductive stages. Conducted over four years (2020–2023) in a semi-arid region, the experiment evaluated treatments on nutrient status, physiological traits, growth, thermal regulation, water use efficiency, and yield. The treatments included synthetic mulch, shade netting, their combination, and a control. Results showed that the combined treatment of mulch and shade netting significantly improved leaf nutrient concentrations (e.g., nitrogen 113.4 %, phosphorus 57.1 %, potassium 111.7 %) compared to the control. It also enhanced leaf area, relative water content, and photosynthetic water use efficiency by 17.1 %, 28.3 %, and 91.7 %, respectively, while reducing sodium (Na) concentrations and improving K/Na and Ca/Na ratios. This treatment increased nut yield (101.9 %) and reduced fruit abscission (37.6 %) and blank nuts (58.7 %). Canopy and soil temperatures decreased by up to 21.4 % and 30.9 %, respectively. Additionally, it reduced alternate bearing intensity (27.6 %) and other fruit complications, including endocarp lesions (53.4 %) and deformed nuts (69.1 %). Water application decreased by 39.4 %. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that the combination of mulch and shade netting improved water use efficiency and tree health. Economic analysis confirmed the cost-effectiveness of the combined treatment, yielding significant returns on investment. This study recommends adopting synthetic mulch and shade nets as sustainable practices for enhancing resilience and productivity in pistachio orchards, particularly in saline, hot, and water-stressed regions.

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优化开心果产量和效率：评估人工地膜和遮阳网对提高抗旱和抗盐能力的作用

本研究调查了合成地面覆盖物（地膜）和遮阳网在关键生育期干旱和盐度胁迫下对开心果树（Pistacia vera L. cv. 'Ahmad-Aghai'）的影响。实验在半干旱地区进行了四年（2020-2023 年），评估了处理对养分状况、生理特征、生长、热调节、水分利用效率和产量的影响。处理包括合成地膜、遮阳网、它们的组合以及对照。结果表明，与对照相比，地膜和遮阳网的组合处理显著提高了叶片养分浓度（如氮113.4%、磷57.1%、钾111.7%）。它还使叶面积、相对含水量和光合水分利用效率分别提高了 17.1 %、28.3 % 和 91.7 %，同时降低了钠（Na）浓度，改善了 K/Na 和 Ca/Na 比率。这种处理方法提高了坚果产量（101.9%），减少了果实脱落（37.6%）和空果（58.7%）。树冠和土壤温度分别降低了 21.4% 和 30.9%。此外，它还降低了交替结果强度（27.6%）和其他果实并发症，包括内果皮病变（53.4%）和畸形坚果（69.1%）。用水量减少了 39.4%。主成分分析（PCA）表明，地膜覆盖和遮阳网的结合提高了水的利用效率，改善了树木的健康状况。经济分析证实了综合处理的成本效益，产生了显著的投资回报。本研究建议采用合成地膜和遮阳网作为提高开心果果园抗逆性和生产力的可持续方法，尤其是在盐碱、炎热和缺水地区。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Agronomy 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

7.70%

发文量

187

审稿时长

4.5 months

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Agronomy, the official journal of the European Society for Agronomy, publishes original research papers reporting experimental and theoretical contributions to field-based agronomy and crop science. The journal will consider research at the field level for agricultural, horticultural and tree crops, that uses comprehensive and explanatory approaches. The EJA covers the following topics: crop physiology crop production and management including irrigation, fertilization and soil management agroclimatology and modelling plant-soil relationships crop quality and post-harvest physiology farming and cropping systems agroecosystems and the environment crop-weed interactions and management organic farming horticultural crops papers from the European Society for Agronomy bi-annual meetings In determining the suitability of submitted articles for publication, particular scrutiny is placed on the degree of novelty and significance of the research and the extent to which it adds to existing knowledge in agronomy.